HiLight Studio Taps into Pixel 11 Pro XL's Unused LED Array Potential

Robin John, a seasoned tech writer, recently discovered an innovative open-source app called HiLight Studio that unlocks the full potential of his Pixel 11 Pro XL's LED array. The feature, introduced last year, had been underutilized until now.

The HiLight LED array on the back of the phone consists of eight lights surrounding the camera bar. Out of the box, it only glows when talking to Google Assistant or receives calls from favorite contacts, with a total of five color options available. This was seen as a missed opportunity by many users.

HiLight Studio, developed by Dhananjay Bhosale, allows for customization and control over the LED array. The app enables per-app rules, where users can assign specific colors to certain apps, such as WhatsApp, and have the lights respond accordingly. This feature makes the LED array an actual notification light rather than just a gimmick.

The app also features a wide range of animated patterns, including comet, pulse, breathe, wave, rainbow, and random, which can be set individually or saved as presets. Users can even adjust saturation and brightness to suit their preferences.